Haute Accessories Week ~ Tampa

September is a whirlwind where fashion is concerned, even here in Tampa we have festivities surrounding Fashion Week that seems to last all month long. I got my season kicked off in style at the HAUTE Accessories week. I would have loved to have written this prior to the event instead of as a recap but I was busy enjoying all the fun. I sipped wine & socialized with quite a few of the designers on Tuesday evening at Spain, a tapas restaurant in Downtown Tampa where The Fashion Movement gave us bloggers the opportunity to meet with some of the wonderful designers of all the things that top off any outfit. I was excited to finally meet Shola Yusef because girlfriend has some killer shoe designs & I just wanted to meet the woman behind the looks. (I have yet to own a pair but I have followed a purple pair all over town). I think they must be a favorite of hers too because she danced her way down the runway in them during her lines finale.

Sho Kellie & Shola Yusef Photo courtesy of Broadway Photography

Shola Designs

Shola Designs

Shola Designs

Shola Yusef of Shola Designs dancing her way down the runway looking fabulous!

I have attended the shows of the past 3 years & I must say, this was by far the best one yet. Lacey & his team over at The Fashion Movement are obviously growing in their knowledge of what to do to offer the designers a great platform on which to share their designs. This show was just the right length and it offered something for everyone.

Founder Lacey Smith of The Fashion Movement: Haute Accessories Show

There were designers from all over the world as well as local Tampa designers. Items from hats clear down to shoes. There were items for men, women & children, there was even a 9 yr old jewelry designer. You think that sounds young? She has 2 years experience already lol, started her business when she was 7! Love an entrepreneurial girl!

9 yr old jewelry designer

Her designs were perfect for little women her age, cute enough to make them happy but understated enough to be perfect for their age group.

Each year there is a designer that I fall in love with, this year I had two (I don’t know if Shola should count but she is at the top of my list) and the 2nd designer is Baglanti Jewelry. Simply elegant is the best way I can describe these items. They were a little difficult to shoot as they came down the runway but I’d already stopped by the table that Lily the designer was manning. Check out the designer & these beauties.

Baglanti Jewelry designer Lilly

Baglanti Jewelry design

It was a great show & while I had a favorite jewelry designer, a favorite entrepreneur & a favorite shoe designer, as mentioned before, this years show had it all. So I guess it would be fair to say I had a lot of favorites (what do you expect, its fashion! So many choices) Malchijah Hats had a refreshing array of fun large brimmed hats. I think I would ooo and ahh over one and then the next one would be better than the last.

Malchijah Hats

Malchijah Hats

Malchijah Hats

The models this year were on point as they have been each year but sometimes their personalities appear no matter what collection they are showing. The young woman below in the red, man every time she took the stage, I was mesmerized. She rocked attitude & exuded confidence each & every time she showed up on the catwalk. Do the damn thing girl! lol

Malchijah Hats

Something else I enjoyed seeing was that the models chosen were having a great time too. As I share the last of the hats, I selected the larger photo because this model winking at the crowd showed that not only were the attendees enjoying themselves but that the models were as well.

Malchijah Hats

I would be remiss if I didn’t mention my fellow bloggers. These events create opportunities for me to mix & mingle with those who have their own fashion story & have fun telling it daily. I always enjoy seeing people who are kindred spirits, I get to see some of my favorite designers, stylists, models & fellow bloggers. (They don’t know I took this shot but I thought it was perfect since all of the aforementioned list above is represented).